House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 13 September 1659

Tuesday, September 13th, 1659.

Prayers.

Clerk of Parliament, &c.

ORDERED, That the Amendments to the Bill for settling the Office of Clerk of the Parliament on Thomas St. Nicholas Esquire, and the Bill for settling the Office of Clerk-Assistant on Ralph Darnall Esquire, be reported on this Day Sevennight.

Newcastle.

Ordered, That the Business touching Newcastle be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Sir A. Cooper.

Ordered, That the Report touching Sir Anthony Ashly Cooper be made To-morrow Morning.

Member's Fine remitted.

Ordered, That the Fine of One hundred Pounds, formerly set upon Mr. Dunch, a Member of Parliament, for not attending at the Call of the House, shall be, and is hereby, taken off, and absolutely discharged.

Persons ordered to the Bar.

Ordered, That Peter Brooke Esquire be brought to the Bar of this House, at Twelve of the Clock, this Day; and that Mr. Speaker do sign a Warrant to the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to take the said Mr. Peter Brooke into his Custody; and to bring him to the Bar of this House, at Twelve of the Clock, this Day, accordingly.

Assessment.

Colonel Harvey reports, from the Committee for the Bill of Assessment of One hundred thousand Pounds a Month, A Proviso, That in case the manner of assessing by a Pound-Rate, shall prove obstructive to the speedy bringing in the Assessment; then the respective Commissioners are authorized to assess the respective Sums charged upon the respective Counties, Cities, Towns, and Places, mentioned in this Act, according to the most just and usual Way of Rates; which was twice read; and upon the Question, agreed unto, and ordered to be Part of the Bill.

The House proceeded in the other Amendments to the said Bill.

The Question being propounded, That the Fifteenth of April next be the Time for Payment of the Second Payment upon this Bill;

And the Question being put, That this Question be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; It was

Resolved, That the Fifteenth of April next be the Time for Payment of the Second Payment upon this Bill.

Ordered, That a Letter be written by Mr. Speaker to the Commissioners for the Assessment of Thirty-five thousand Pounds a Month, in the respective Counties, Cities, and Boroughs, within this Commonwealth, upon Receipt of this Letter, to cause the Money, assessed upon that Act, to be forthwith paid in; and to take care, that the Collector do forthwith pay in the Monies upon the said Assessment already by them received, and in their Hands.

And Colonel Thompson is to prepare the Letter; and Mr. Speaker is to sign the same.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Inspections, to inquire out, What Monies, due to the State, are remaining in the Hands of any Person or Persons; and to take care, that the same be forthwith called in.

Resolved, That, in the Sixty-third Folio of the Bill of Assessment, Line Third, between the Word "found," and the Word "and," there be inserted these Words, "and that the said Sequestration do continue, until the Money so assessed, and the Charges for bringing in the same, be paid and satisfied, and no longer."

Resolved, That this Debate be adjourned until To-morrow Morning; and nothing to intervene.

A Member expelled.

The House being informed, That Mr. Peter Brooke was at the Door;

Resolved, That Mr. Peter Brooke be brought to the Bar of this House.

The said Mr. Peter Brooke was brought to the Bar of this House, accordingly; but without Kneeling at the Bar: And, after some Questions demanded of him by Mr. Speaker, he, being permitted to speak for himself, confessed, he did consent to the Design of Sir George Booth; was with him at Chester; that he was named one of the Council of War; and sat as one of the Council of War there: That he, and Half a Score of his Tenants, went to Warrington, in the Night-time; that he had a Sword by his Side, and some of his Tenants Pistols.

And after, he was commanded to withdraw: And did withdraw, accordingly.

Resolved, That Peter Brooke Esquire be disabled, and be, and is hereby, discharged, from being a Member of Parliament.

Resolved, That Peter Brooke Esquire be committed to the Tower of London, for High Treason, in levying War against the Parliament and Commonwealth, in order to his Tryal.

Mr. Peter Brooke was called in, as a Delinquent: And kneeling at the Bar of the House, Mr. Speaker did acquaint him with the Resolves of the Parliament, That, as Criminal to the Parliament, the Parliament had resolved, That he be disabled and discharged from being a Member of Parliament: And that, as Criminal to this Commonwealth, the Parliament had resolved, That he be committed to the Tower of London, for High Treason, in levying War against the Parliament and Commonwealth, in order to his Tryal.